Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid works for the puck against the Columbus Blue Jackets during an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, March 4, 2016. The Blue Jackets won 6-3. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
With about a handful of games remaining in the regular season, the playoff races are heating up with a ton on the line every shift. Let's dig in and look at some of the core fantasy plays at each position for this seven-game slate.
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Opponent - FLA
Proj Pts FD - 20.1 DK - 5.03
It has been ride or die with Price and the Habs down the stretch as he is slated to make his ninth straight start tonight. He has come up with a couple of stinkers but overall he has been terrific lately holding opponents to two or fewer goals in 14 of his last 17 starts while recording a .921 save %. Tonight, he and the Habs are big -185 home favorites against a Panthers team that is playing on a back to back and third game in four nights. The decision is a little closer on FanDuel where Price is over $9K but on DraftKings he is easily my top goalie in all formats.
Opponent - LA
Proj Pts FD - 20.23 DK - 5.06
For cash games, it just makes sense to pay up the $100 on DraftKings and roll with Price but on FanDuel it makes sense to consider Koskinen at a $1,400 discount. Sure he has been up and down lately giving up four or more goals three times in the last 10 games but the matchup is prime against a Kings team that ranks 30th overall on offense. Koskinen has also been much better on home ice this season with a 13-7-2 record with .920 save % and three shutouts(10-11-3, .896 save % on road).
Also consider: Jacob Markstrom(VAN) in a great spot at home against the Ducks 31st ranked offense
Opponent - LA
Proj Pts FD - 20.47 DK - 5.94
It's a "pay up at center" kind of slate and I will start with one of the best in the game, Connor McDavid. The Oilers playoff chances have slipped lately(8 points behind WC2) but in no way has it been McDavid's fault. Since the start of February, he has posted 35 points in 22 games which includes 13 multi-point efforts and with just one more point he will set a new career high(109) and has already posted his third straight 100-point season. Tonight, he and the Oilers get a plus home matchup against a Kings team that sits at the bottom of the Western Conference standings and have been playing their worst defense of the season down the stretch allowing 3.54 goals per game since the start of February(24 games). McDavid is my top play overall and safe in all formats.
Stack with: Zach Kassian, Ryan Nugen-Hopkins, Leon Draisaitl(PP)
Opponent - OTT
Proj Pts FD - 17.5 DK - 5.19
Despite yet another season of his career without going to the playoffs, Jack Eichel has taken his game to the next level and has been an elite fantasy asset. He has already surpassed his career high in points with 75(64 last season) and has averaged a cool four shots on goal per game which is backed up by an elite 18.6 iCorsi/60. He has shown great chemistry with offseason pickup Jeff Skinner and the combo now gets an elite matchup against the Senators league-worst defense that allows 3.7 goals per game. Like McDavid, Eichel is an elite play in all formats.
Stack with: Jeff Skinner, Sam Reinhart
Also Consider: Jordan Staal(CAR) as a value play who has points in three straight and four of his last five games with 16 shots on goal
Opponent - FLA
Proj Pts FD - 14.34 DK - 4.09
A big part of the Habs success down the stretch has been their offense and Brendan Gallagher stands out the most from a fantasy perspective. Not only is he having a great run down the stretch with 21 points since the start of February, but he also provides an elite floor averaging 3.7 shots per game with a league-leading 24.9 iCorsi/60. He and the Habs now get an elite matchup against the Panthers who have given up 16 goals in their last four games and rank 27th in road defense on the season. Fire up Gallagher in all formats and pair him with his linemates for a high-upside GPP stack.
Stack with: Phillip Danault, Tomas Tatar
Opponent - CHI
Proj Pts FD - 11.12 DK - 3.17
If you are looking to load up with two or three elite players in your lineup you are going to need a punt or two, especially on DraftKings. One that stands out to me is Vinnie Hinostroza of the Coyotes. He has set a career-high in games played(66), goals(15), and points(34) which isn't a ton of upside but he is currently skating on the top line and second powerplay unit. On top of that, he has provided a high PTS/$ floor lately with 35 shots in his last 10 game. The matchup also stands out and while the Blackhawks have been slightly better lately, they still rank 30th in overall defense. Hinostroza is a player I will get exposure to in all formats.
Stack with: Richard Panik, Brad Richardson
Also Consider: Josh Anderson(CBJ) who is a buy-low and has been red-hot lately with 10 points over his last 10 games with 38 shots on goal
Opponent - FLA
Proj Pts FD - 15.47 DK - 4.49
If you are paying up for a d-man tonight(and I most certainly will be) there is one name that stands out above the rest. Shea Weber may not have the same upside as Burns, Karlsson, Giordano, or Rielly but he is providing us with an elite floor. He has tallied a combined four or more shots/blocks in 14 straight and 24 of his last 26 games while averaging six per game in that time. The upside also gets a boost tonight in a matchup against the Panthers who are playing on a back to back and third game in four nights. Weber is my top play on defense in all formats.
Opponent - ANA
Proj Pts FD - 15.2 DK - 4.3
Opponent - ANA
Proj Pts FD - 12.3 DK - 2.55
For value, I love targeting the Canucks top pairing and it all depends on how much salary you have to spare. Like Weber, Alexander Edler provides an elite floor and has tallied a whopping 55 combined blocks/shots in his last 10 games and is averaging 5.1 per game on the season while skating over 24 minutes per game. His best value comes on FanDuel where he is a mega buy-low at the moment in the low $5K range. For Biega, he is much cheaper on both sites and is more of a punt play for cash games. The upside is limited but he has contributed a combined 39 shots/blocks in his last 10 games which is more than enough to put him in the elite PTS/$ range.
Also Consider: Seth Jones(CBJ) in all formats if paying up or Kris Russell(EDM) as another punt play
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